Defence Current Affairs March 2017

ISRO successfully tested its indigenously developed cryogenic engine in a major step forward for its landmark ‘GSLV Mk III’ rocket on January 27, 2017.

Cryogenic engines are used in the upper stage of a rocket launch as they provide the maximum thrust to a launcher vehicle.

The cryogenic upper stage, designated as C25, was tested on January 25 for 50 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, demonstrating all the stage operations.

The C25 stage is the most powerful upper stage developed by ISRO and uses liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen propellant combination.

The stage carries 27.8 tonnes of propellants loaded in two independent tanks.

The Indian Navy’s Exercise (TROPEX) Held

The Indian Navy’s Annual Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX) held on January 24, 2017.

The exercise is aimed at testing combat readiness of the combined fleets of the Indian Navy, and the assets of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard. It will also strengthen inter-operability and joint operations in a complex environment.

The month long exercise will have ships and aircraft of both the Western and Eastern Naval Commands, as also assets from the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard exercising together.

Japan Launched First Military Communications Satellite Kirameki-2

Japan launched Kirameki-2 communications satellite, which will enable it to quickly share information about ballistic missiles launched by North Korea or videos of Japanese troops deployed overseas on January 24, 2017.

Kirameki-2 is the first of three satellites that will replace three civilian ones currently used by Japan’s military.

Kirameki-2 along with the other two planned satellites (also called as X-Band) will quadruple broadband capacity and allows communications across more territory.

The Kirameki-1 was scheduled for a launch in July, 2016, but it suffered damage while being transported to the launch site in French Guiana. Currently, it is undergoing repair and is scheduled for launch in March, 2018.

INS-Khanderi, India’s Second Scorpene Class Submarine Launched

India’s second Scorpene class submarine was launched adding to the country’s naval might with a vessel that combines superior stealth technology with an ability to launch crippling attacks with torpedoes and missiles on January 11, 2017.

‘Khanderi is among six submarines being built at Mazagon docks in collaboration with a French company, DCNS. The first one, Kalvari, is completing sea trials and will be commissioned shortly into the Indian Navy.

Khanderi is named after ah island fort of the Marathas which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century.

The submarine can undertake multifarious types of missions such as anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.

Guided Pinaka, which has been upgraded from Pinaka Rocket, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on January 11, 2017.

The Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which evolved from Pinaka Mark-I, is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit and has been transformed to a Guided Pinaka.

The Guided Pinaka is developed jointly by ARDE Pune, RCI Hyderabad and DRDL Hyderabad. ITR Chandipur provided the range and launch support.

HEALTH CURRENT AFFAIRS

World’s First Stable Semi-synthetic Organism Created

The scientists created the first stable semi-synthetk organism (a single-celled bacterium) that may play important roles in drug discovery and other applications on January 24. 2017.

Life’s genetic code has only ever contained four natural bases. These bases pair up to form two base pairs (the rungs of the DNA ladder) and they have simply been rearranged to create all life a. we know It, from bacteria to humans.

The scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in the USA created a new bacterium that uses the four natural bases (called A, T, C and G), which every living organism possesses, but that also holds as a pair two synthetic bases called X and Y in its genetic code.

Scientists Developed New Technique for Faster Diagnosis of HIV, Lyme Disease, Syphilis and Rotavirus Infections

The scientists developed a new method for medical testing that may lead to faster diagnosis of HIV, Lyme disease, syphilis and rotavirus infections on January 22; 2017.

The researchers at the University of Central Florida cutting-edge nanoscience with a magnetic phenomenon discovered more than 170 years ago to create the method for speedy medical tests.

The team coated nanoparticles with the antibody to BSA, or bovine !serum albumin, which is commonly Used as the basis of a variety of diagnostic tests.

By mixing the nanoparticles in a test solution, the BSA proteins preferentially bind with the antibodies that coat the nanoparticles.

Scientists Discovered a New organ, Mesentery inside Human Body

A new organ discovered hiding in plain sight inside the human body on January 4, 2017.

It is known as the mesentery, it was previously thought to be just a few fragmented structures in the digestive system.

The organ is a double fold of peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) that holds our intestine to the wall of our abdomen.

It was described by the Italian polymath Leanardo da Vinci in 1508, but it has been ignored throughout the centuries, until now.

Although, there are generally considered to be five organs in the human body, there are in fact now 79, including the mesentery.